German and Austrian travelers tighten vacation budgets as costs rise

A norisbank survey of 1,021 German adults shows that travelers are planning tighter on‑site spending for 2026. On average, they expect an additional €308.37 per person in expenses such as meals, excursions and entertainment, with 81.4% budgeting up to €500. Compared with 2025, more Germans anticipate lower budgets: the share planning €100‑€200 rose to 30.4%, while those expecting €500‑€750 fell to 8.8%.

A Deloitte survey of about 500 Austrians reveals a similar pullback. The average travel budget this year is around €1,300 per person, about €200 less than the previous year. One‑fifth of respondents plan to spend less at the destination, and 70% factor higher fuel costs into their plans. Over half use vacation pay for the trip, but a growing quarter are using it for everyday expenses, and 40% have added travel or cancellation insurance in response to geopolitical tensions.